Jan. 20--It took a knee injury last August to slow Billy McKinney's development.
But the Chicago Cubs' left-handed hitting outfield prospect said he has fully healed and is ready for the 2016 season.
"Feeling well and heading out to Arizona on Sunday," McKinney wrote in an email. "Should be ready for spring training and excited for baseball to start!"
There's plenty for the Cubs and McKinney to be excited about. McKinney batted a combined .300 at Class-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Tennessee last summer. McKinney is the Cubs' seventh top prospect by Baseball America.
McKinney, who was acquired with shortstop Addison Russell as part of the five-player trade that sent pitcher Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland Athletics on July 5, 2014, suffered a hairline fracture of his right knee cap after fouling off a pitch on Aug. 13 -- 10 days before his 21st birthday.
McKinney was batting .285 with three home runs and 39 RBIs prior to injuring his knee.
